Doll



Sept. 8, 1931. .1. G. FLEMING 1,322,437

DOLL

Filed Oct. 24 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR JANET Gv FLEMING ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1931 J. G. FLEMING DOLL Filed Oct. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4.

IN W BY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JANET 'G. FLEMING, F RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA I DOLL Application'filed October 24, 1929. Serial 0. 402,087.

My invention pertains to a doll of a type which may be designated as a dancing doll to give a type of dancing movement.

An object of my invention is a doll which a may be utilized to simulate dancing by A further object of my invention is a doll in which the legs and the arms are formed wlth a base support of resilient material and has a springy-action and when shaken will give a vibration-to the arms and legs of the doll. A particular object of my invention in this relation is to make the arms and legs with a base or support of coiled wire springs having a fabric or other material formed either of fillingor of covering for f bly formed of a cylindrical PIGCG Of wood ,or other similar material and this has leg the wires.

Another detailed object of my invention is having a doll with a neck construction ,4 formed. with resilient material so that the head may wobble or vibrate when the body of the doll is shaken. Therefore in constructing the doll I utilize a simplified construction in which the torso or body support or frame consists of a cylindrical piece of 39 wood or similar material to the lower end 'of which Iattach a pair of coiled wire springs, such springs having a helical'coil and adjacent the top I secure a pair of helical springs which extend outwardly in opposite directions to form the arms. If desired the springs forming the legs may be in onewpiece, fastened to the lower part of the Wood with staples and the springs forming the arm structure may be in one piece and 40 attached adjacent the top of the piece 0f Wood. The body structure is preferably made of cords which are wound around the f the resiliency to the neck is preferably "the torso'block 11. *what may be termed feet 25, Where the cords wound on the outside of these cords, being securely fitted on the upper end of the wood block frame and the upper end of the spring being imbedded in the head structure. By

this construction, when the doll is grasped by the torso andshaken slightly, thearm and leg structures swing and vibrate as does the neck, simulating grotesque dances.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanymg drawings, 111 which, W

Figure 1 represents a face View of the doll Fig. 2 is a side view;

Fig. 3 is a front View of the frame or, skeleton construction. 5

Fig. 4 is another construction showing the doll with a flexible waist;

F ig. 5 is an elevation of the frame structure of the doll of Fig. 4.

The torso support or frame 11 is preferato frames 12 formed of wire coils 13, these coils being helical andbeing secured to the lower part of the torso frame 11' by staples 14; or (a the like. 'The armstructures 15 also comprise helical springs 16 secured adjacent the upper end of the torso frame 11 by staples 17 or the like and thesearms are preferably,

bent and if desired have a small clamping .wire 18 to hold the arm structures in a bent angle indicating the-elbow. This structure so far described and illustrated in Fig.1 3 may be designated as the skeleton or frame. of the doll. p f

The torso covering 19 is made by covering the wood block 11 with cords or other similar material wound around the block with semi-circular windings 20 and also with; diagonal windings2lif desired. Cords are drawn or fitted lengthwise throughthe arm coils 15, such longitudinally extendingcords being indicated at 22. These cords terminate in what may be designated as end portions 28which are preferably knotted.

, The legs are also formed by cords 24 extending through the windings and secured in any suitable manner to the lower part of These also terminate in may be enlarged or knotted. A skirt 26 is formed preferably of cords to simulate a grass skirt and is indicated as secured to the torso by a belt 27. If desired on the waist line there may be a wire coil 28 but this is for ornamental purposes and to prevent the body covering from loosening in handling.

The neck is formed by cords 29 which extend upwardly from the torso and to suf ficiently stiffen these cords, there is a wire coil spring 30. The lower end 31 of this spring has a snug fit on the outside of the cords and over the top of the block 11 and if desired may be secured to such block. The head 32 may be made grotesque and have a face 33 painted thereon and preferably the upper end 34 of the spring 30 extends upwardly into the structure of the head, such head being preferably formed of cloth and filled with suitablestuffing. Various ornaments may be attached to the head, neck, body or arms if desired. Layers of fabric or other flexible material 35 may be placed on the arms and legs forming a covering and enclosing the springs and the cord filling of the springs. This covering therefore prevents the springs from being seen and to a certain extent 'adds to the curious effect of the dancing doll. It is to be understood that the doll may be made with the torso support or frame 11 made of a fabric bag with a suitable filling and of any fairly stiff material instead of a block of wood.

In the construction of the doll of Figs. 4 and 5, the torso structure 36 is formed in two parts, there being an up or portion 37 to which the flexible wires 38 orming the arms are attached as indicated at 39 and in which the neck forming wires 40 are attached tothe upper portion 41. The torso also has a lower section 42, there being a flexible spring 43 connecting these sections, said springs being attached to two sections of the torsoas indicated at 44 and 45; the connection illustrated being by staples or any other suitable connection may be made. The legs 46 are formed of coiled wire and are secured to the lower part of the lower section 42 of the torso by staples or other fastenings 47. It is to be understood that the doll of Fig. 4 may be made with a suitable filling inside of the coiled wires and also an outer covering for these wires if desired, or the outer covering may be omitted. Again if desired the spring wires may be covered and the inner filling may be omitted.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

I claim:

1. In a doll having a frame structure with a torso formed of two blocks of substantially the same diameter, such blocks being connected by a helically coiled spring, such spring extending over the upper end of the lower block and the lower end of the upper block, the spring being at substantially the waist line of the finished doll.

2. In a doll a frame structure having a torso formed of an upper and lower block of substantially the same diameter positioned end to end and having a helically coiled spring connecting saidblocks, the lower end of the spring being attached to the lower block and the upper end to the upper block, a leg structure formed of a single helical wire coil secured midlength to the lower block and havin the two end portions of the coil substantially parallel.

3. In a doll a frame having a torso structure formed of two blocks of substantially the same diameter positioned end to end and with a helically coiled spring connecting said blocks, such spring extending over the upper end of the lower block and the lower end of the upper block, legs formed of a single helically coiled wire having a reverse bend and secured at such bend to the lower block, the ends of the coils being substantially parallel, arm frames formed of a single helically coiled wire secured at its midportion to the upper block.

4;. In a doll as claimed in claim 3, the coil forming the arms having a sharp bend with means retaining the coil in the formation of such bend, the bend simulating elbows.

5. In a doll a frame structure having a torso formed of two elongated blocks of substantially the same diameter connected by a helically coiled wire, such wire extending over the upper end of the lower block and the lower end of the upper block and being attached to each block, a leg struc ture formed of a single helically coiled wire having a reverse bend and secured at such bend to the lower block, the leg forming ends being substantially parallel, an arm structure formed of a single helically coiled wire attached at its midlength to the upper block and extending in diametrically opposite directions from such block, a neck structure formed of a helically coiled wire having its lower part wrapped on the upper end of the upper block and secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JANET G. FLEMING. 

